Category Archives: Diet

Is Just Eating Healthy Really Enough for PCOS?

Is Just Eating Healthy Really Enough for PCOS?

     For women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) obesity is a big issue. Losing weight and maintaining a healthy body weight is highly recommended because it helps reduce all other symptoms, one of which is high insulin resistance. Doctors have recommended a low glycemic (low-GI) diet (the recommended diet for diabetics) without aContinue Reading

Artificial Sweeteners Versus Sugar Sweeteners

Artificial Sweeteners Versus Sugar Sweeteners

“Sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverage consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes in men” is an analysis of a prospective cohort study that compares the effect of sugar-sweetened beverages and artificial sweetened beverages on type 2 diabetes. The study found that sugar-sweetened beverages do increase the risk of type 2 diabetes but artificial sweeteners doContinue Reading

Lowering Blood Pressure through the Mediterranean Diet

Lowering Blood Pressure through the Mediterranean Diet

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major contributor to the risk for multiple cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and overall heart health.  “In 2003, the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure estimated that hypertension affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide” (1).  Treatments used for lowering blood pressureContinue Reading

Going Gluten-Free: Are We Getting Enough Nutrients?

Going Gluten-Free: Are We Getting Enough Nutrients?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the G.I. tract and it has many symptoms involved. The best way to help prevent these symptoms is by going on a gluten-free diet. But what about the nutrients that gluten lacks that these people are losing? The study performed by Shepherd, SJ and Gibson, PR inContinue Reading

Can Artificially Sweetened and Diet Beverages Affect your Intake of Sweets and Calories?

Can Artificially Sweetened and Diet Beverages Affect your Intake of Sweets and Calories?

There is a vast amount of research and opinions circulating the nutrition industry around artificial sweeteners and their affects on our diets. Consumers are constantly advised conflicting information. One idea is that artificial sweeteners in foods such as diet beverages increase one’s dietary intake and desire for sugary foods. A recent study done by PiernasContinue Reading

Trending Paleo Diet, Athletes and Weight Loss

Trending Paleo Diet, Athletes and Weight Loss

Many believe that the Paleolithic “ketogenic diet” may be the answer for a healthier life, and for increased performance and weight loss during sport and physical activities.  A study by Paoli, et al. observed that when elite male gymnasts were placed on a very low carbohydrate “ketogenic” diet they were able to decrease weight andContinue Reading

Berry Good News! Eating berries may reduce your risk for diabetes

Berry Good News! Eating berries may reduce your risk for diabetes

The consumption of white wheat bread activates the body’s insulin response system1. Eating berries, such as strawberries, cranberries, and blackcurrants, can limit the amount of insulin needed for the body to process the starches found in bread. This is good news for a nation where eating starchy wheat products is a daily occurrence. The benefitContinue Reading

Depressed? Eat Some Fish

Depressed? Eat Some Fish

Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to be clinically more effective than a placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate depression in the elderly. Yaser Tajalizadekhoob et al studied the effect of low-dose omega 3 fatty acid supplementation as an alternative to antidepressant treatment for the elderly (1). One popular source of theseContinue Reading

Can Vitamin D-fortified Milk and Bread Increase Vitamin D Level?

Can Vitamin D-fortified Milk and Bread Increase Vitamin D Level?

            Vitamin D deficiency, 25-hydroxyvitamin D less than 50 nmol/L, is common in the US population around 41.6% 1.  The main source of vitamin D is sunlight. During winter at latitudes above 40 degree N, people cannot synthesize vitamin D 2; therefore, food becomes the main source of vitamin D. The study presented that vitaminContinue Reading

High Fructose Corn Syrup, Are We Still Missing Something?

High Fructose Corn Syrup, Are We Still Missing Something?

There are many articles and blogs over the internet that debate the question if High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is associated with the high rate of obesity and diabetes that we are observing today. I feel a lot of the controversy is due to the fact that the increased use of HFCS parallels the increaseContinue Reading